A three way conflict situation The Naga-Kuki factor
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Imphal must have noted but the question greater importance at the moment is whether the reality has been faithfully conveyed to Delhi or not. If yes, then it should be obvious that any road to normalcy will also have to involve the Naga community, which has recently been dragged into the picture, adding yet another dimension to the conflict situation, a reality which is written in bold on the decapitated bodies of the six Naga men, the mortal remains of the FCI truck driver shot dead while on duty on the Imphal-Ukhrul road, the two Tangkhul men shot dead while travelling to Ukhrul from Imphal, the Kuki men who have been killed at different places as well as the assassination of the three Thadou Church leaders. A resolution now demands that it is not only the Meiteis and the Kukis who the Government should reach out, but also the Nagas as well. And the Nagas have every reason to feel peeved and betrayed for while the 14 Kuki men were released safe and sound, only the mutilated bodies of the six Naga men were returned. As noted earlier here, has Delhi taken cognizance of the reality here, or has Imphal been able to convey the correct scenario ? A resolution between the Kukis and the Meiteis would mean nothing if the Nagas are not taken into confidence. As a responsible Government, Imphal ought to have realised this point, but the reason why this is being raised now should be understood in the context of the fact that though it has been days since the Imphal-Ukhrul road has remained cut off, no one knows what steps the Government has taken up to clear the road. The road trip from Imphal to Ukhrul taken by the Chief Minister some time back is just not enough, for the situation demands something much more. Other than the announcement that the abduction and slaughter of the six Naga hostages would be handed over the NIA, the Government still does not seem to know who was responsible for the abduction and cold blooded murder. Till date Manipur has not seen any sort of action taken up to identify and nail the people or group responsible for the killing of the two Tangkhul men as well as the killing of the FCI driver. These are some of the cases involving the Kuki-Naga clash and it is precisely for these reasons why the need to involve the Nagas in any initiative to take the State towards normalcy arises. What is being said here is nothing but observations made from the reality that is visible to even to the casual onlooker.
The efforts to reach out to every section and the initiatives taken up so far is noted, but one cannot help but question whether Imphal has got its feet firmly planted on the ground. The fact that the conflict situation today is three dimension should be noted and it is along this line that any step towards any resolution should be taken. For instance, has the Government made any efforts to reach out to the family members of the six Naga men who were butchered to death ? Has any efforts been made to reach out to the people of Konsakhul, the place from where the six men hailed ? In short the Government can no longer look at the situation only through the prism of the Meitei-Kuki clash but also take cognizance of the fact that the Naga people have been dragged in and the conflict situation has taken a whole new dimension. A new dimension which has only made things more complicated for Imphal. As raised in the opening of this commentary, has Imphal managed to convey the true story of Manipur to Delhi or is it going to continue humming the tune that the Centre wants to hear ? Any effort taken to put Manipur on the road to normalcy should invariably mean taking the Naga-Kuki clash into consideration. And remember there will be no magic words such as ‘buffer zones’ to keep the Nagas and Kukis away from each other. Or will Delhi and Imphal come up with a new definition to keep people of the two communities strictly within demarcated zones ? Imphal should consider these questions with the seriousness they deserve.
The efforts to reach out to every section and the initiatives taken up so far is noted, but one cannot help but question whether Imphal has got its feet firmly planted on the ground. The fact that the conflict situation today is three dimension should be noted and it is along this line that any step towards any resolution should be taken. For instance, has the Government made any efforts to reach out to the family members of the six Naga men who were butchered to death ? Has any efforts been made to reach out to the people of Konsakhul, the place from where the six men hailed ? In short the Government can no longer look at the situation only through the prism of the Meitei-Kuki clash but also take cognizance of the fact that the Naga people have been dragged in and the conflict situation has taken a whole new dimension. A new dimension which has only made things more complicated for Imphal. As raised in the opening of this commentary, has Imphal managed to convey the true story of Manipur to Delhi or is it going to continue humming the tune that the Centre wants to hear ? Any effort taken to put Manipur on the road to normalcy should invariably mean taking the Naga-Kuki clash into consideration. And remember there will be no magic words such as ‘buffer zones’ to keep the Nagas and Kukis away from each other. Or will Delhi and Imphal come up with a new definition to keep people of the two communities strictly within demarcated zones ? Imphal should consider these questions with the seriousness they deserve.